CLARK FREEPORT—The leased area of Linaheim Corporate Services Inc. owned by newly appointed Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina near the Sapang Bato Gate has remained undeveloped despite being one of the earlier investors of this free port and an aggressive policy to terminate nonperforming lease agreements.
Clark Development Corp. (CDC) AVP for Business Development Mariz O. Mandocdoc said they have sent letters to Linaheim (to develop the area) but she argued that even if the area is undeveloped, it had already submitted its development plan.
“I know we have sent him letters but I am not familiar now what happened,” Mandocdoc said.
“Mayroon na kaming [We already have] activities to discuss with them what are the development plans,” she added during a visit to her office on Monday.
But Mandocdoc admitted that no development has been made on the area. “Oo, nakikita mong wala, pero mayroon yang mga development plans [Yes, you can see that there is none, but they have development plans],” she stressed.
When asked if Lina is the partner of CDC President and CEO lawyer Arthur P. Tugade that is why the former’s contract was not terminated for non-development, Mandocdoc replied with a definite no. “Ay, hindi, sigurado kami hindi […no, we are sure, no]. We are very definite,” she said.
“We are sure he is not his partner. Very careful siya dyan [He is very careful] of conflict of interest. That is why before he has possible assignments but he did not accept,” Mandocdoc said of Tugade.
Lease agreement signed in 1993
According to CDC records, the contract of Linaheim Corporate Services Inc. was signed on October 20, 1993, or just six months after the inception of CDC in April through Executive Order 80 signed by then-President Fidel V. Ramos.
The lease agreement covers an area of 8.8 hectares but it did not have commitment/development provisions (like some other contracts during that period).
On November 29, 2013, Linaheim was requested by CDC to submit business plans with timelines.
On January 30, 2014, Linaheim submitted preliminary plans.
Today Linaheim’s site development plans are presented for enhancement and review.
Lina is the owner of Lina Group of Companies (LGC) which includes Air 21, U-Freight Inc., Cargohaus, E-Konek, U-Ocean Inc., Lina Farms, LGC Logistics, 2100 Customs Brokers, Linaheim Properties, Linaheim Corporate Travel and Tours, and Credit Solutions and Business Alliances, among others.
U-Freight Philippines Inc. is one of the companies of Lina that is being investigated by the Bureau of Customs for its alleged failure to pay about P1.5 billion in taxes and duties for an undisclosed number of shipments at its Pasay City warehouse at least two months before he was appointed its commissioner.
CDC terminates contract of South Korean neighbor
Adjacent to the Linaheim area is the 3.3-hectare Hollywood Park Development Corp. owned by South Korean investor Eung-il “Steve” Kim which has about 200 tenants in several housing units.
On January 12 the CDC terminated Kim’s contract and forcibly took over his leased property with fully armed guards and the CDC police despite a temporary restraining order from the court.